Ejector pump



p 1965 H. R. KELLER 3,208,399

EJECTOR PUMP Filed Oct. 14, 1963 INVENTOR.

HOWARD R. KELLER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,208,399 EJECTOR PUMP Howard KR. Keller, Wrightstown, Pa. Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 315,779 3 Claims. (Cl. 103-260) This invention relates to an ejector pump. More particularly, it relates to an ejector pump adapted for inaccessible locations, particularly in below-ground applications. More particularly, it relates to an ejector pump adapted to be used in below-ground water well systems.

More particularly, this invention relates to an ejector pump having means to keep the nozzle clear, and in one embodiment it relates to an ejector pump with a selfcleaning nozzle.

Ejector pumps of the type herein concerned are commonly used in water wells, where they are located below ground level and below the water level in the well. A feature of such pumps is a relatively constricted nozzle. From time to time this nozzle may get clogged by debris or foreign matter in the water. A common expedient to minimize the chance of such clogging is the provision of a strainer or similar device at the intake to the pump. However, for a variety of reasons these strainers do not always completely protect the nozzle from clogging. Such reasons include the corroding away of the strainer, and the passage of foreign particles through the strainer apertures.

When clogging of the nozzle occurs, and the flow of water therethrough fails to clear it, it has heretofore been necessary to pull the pump up to the surface for cleaning. As can readily be appreciated, this is a relatively expensive and time consuming task which it is desirable to avoid.

The present invention contemplates a corrosion-resistant pump of which an essential feature is a provision of means by which a clogged nozzle may be either cleared by simple operation from ground level, or in which the normal operation of the pump continually acts to clear the nozzle.

Certain ancillary equipment is not illustrated or described herein because it lies outside the scope of this inventive improvement. The foot valve or check valve, and the strainer which has been mentioned above are not shown in the drawings. Normally, they would be located on the intake side of the pump as shown; that is, below the pump as shown. In addition, a pumping means is provided, usually at or above ground level to force water (or other liquid to be pumped) through the nozzle, thus effecting the pumping action as is well known in the art. This pumping means also is not shown in the drawing as not being necessary to the explanation of the invention herein.

It is an object of this invention to provide an ejector pump.

It is an object of this invention to provide an ejector pump having a nozzle and including means to keep said nozzle clear.

It is an object of this invention to provide an ejector pump having a nozzle, and means operable from above to keep said nozzle clear.

It is another object of this invention to provide an ejector pump having a nozzle, and means operable by the normal operation of the pump to keep said nozzle clear.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent in the following specification and claims.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical partly sectional View of one embodiment of the ejector pump,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a vertical view, partly in cross-section and partly fragmented of an alternate embodiment of an element of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a vertical partly sectional view of another embodiment of the ejector pump.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is considered first. This ejector pump is provided with a nozzle cleaning means which is manually operable from outside the pump. In normal use, where the pump generally designated 20 is located below grade in a well, the nozzle cleaning operation is effected by manual operation at or above ground level.

The pump generally comprises a hollow casing 12. Substantially all the structure of the pump 20, including casing 12, excluding the nozzle cleaning elements, are preferably made of molded plastic, such as preferably nylon. Preferably, plastic pipe (not shown) is connected to the body of the pump, and also preferably the strainer and valve (not shown) are also of the same plastic. Thus, in its preferred form the entire ejector pump and associated equipment is highly corrosion resistant.

The pump 20 includes an intake line having intake line threaded coupling 12B. It has a return line equipped with a return line coupling 12A. The pump has a discharge line provided with a discharge line coupling 25B. Preferably, and as shown, all these couplings are either internal or external threads adapted to meet with similar coupling means on piping or on strainer and valve units. The direction of flow of the water (or other liquid) through the various channels of the pump 20 is indicated by the arrows.

As shown, the descending return line turns: upward and runs into the intake line. At the point of meeting, a nozzle 14 is provided. The nozzle 14 is provided with coupling means 14B which meet with coupling means 12C on the interior end of the return line. Normally, and as shown, these coupling means are threads. The upper part of the generally hollow nozzle 14 is reduced to form an aperture 14A.

Directly above and spaced from the aperture 14A is a venturi tube 25. In accord with the well known design of such tubes, the venturi tube 25 has a point of reduced inside diameter forming a neck 25A. The configuration of the inside diameter of venturi tube 25 on both sides of 25A is clearly illustrated in the drawing, and is conventional.

The structure of pump 20 so far described is conventional except insofar as it departs from conventional structures in being preferably made of molded plastic materials. It is not deemed necessary to explain in detail the operation of this well known device. Water is forced through the return line and from nozzle 14 into the venturi 25. In accord with well known principles, water taken along line 2-2 of is drawn by this action into the intake line and out of the discharge line, thus effecting a pumping action.

The nozzle clearing means is generally designated 30 and is described below. It includes a wire or reamer carrying means 35 disposed Within said casing 12 and specifically through nozzle 14 and venturi neck 25A. Wire 35 carries thereon a reamer, plug, or scraper 34. The wire 35 has a diameter substantially less than that of aperature 14A; the reamer 34- has a diameter approximately equal to that of nozzle 14A, with sliding clearance.

The wire 35 at its lower end is formed into a coiled spring or spring means 37. The coiled spring 37 is aflixed to a bracket 38 which in turn is fastened to the wall of casing 12 preferably by means of screw 39.

Above the venturi neck 25A, the wire 35 is continued and may be identified as an internal operating wire 31. A hole 25D is provided through the side of venturi tube 25 as shown, although this hole may be provided further up the discharge line if desired. The hole 25D is wide enough to accommodate wire 31 with a sliding fit, and if desired some packing or other sealing means may be provided to minimize or prevent leakage of water from the discharge line or venturi through the hole around wire 31. However, with the fairly close fit which is suitable, the leakage is a very minor consideration. The wire then is continued outside the hole as external operating wire 31A. The internal and external wires 31 and 31A together comprise manual operating means. External operating wire 31A runs upwardly within the well to the surface or any convenient location where it can be manually pulled.

When the manual operating means is pulled in the direction shown by the arrow, the scraper 34 rises against the tension of spring 37 and enters into aperature 14A, thus clearing it. When the operating means is released, the spring returns the assembly to the position shown in FIG. 4. An upper stop 32 is provided above neck 25A and a lower stop 36 is provided below aperature 14A to provide limits to be travelled by the scraper. It is apparent that these stops, while desirable are not essential and may be eliminated. In particular, the upper stop may be eliminated; it being more desirable to keep the. lower stop.

When the nozzle is clogged, a brief operation of the nozzle cleaning means 30 serves to clear the aperature. Thus, the necessity of bringing the pump to the surface for cleaning is eliminated.

Another form of the invention is best shown in FIG. 1. This form contemplates a nozzle cleaning means which does not require manual operation. The pump generally designated is identical to pump except as described below. Like reference numerals in connection with this pump identify parts identical to those illustrated in FIG. 4. The discharge line is provided with a discharge line coupler 1513, which typically is external screw threads. The venturi tube 15 with neck 15A does not have a hole in the side as does venturi tube 25. The nozzle cleaning means is somewhat different in this embodiment. It comprises a plunger 16 provided within the venturi and passing through the neck 15A. It has a diameter substantially smaller than the internal diameter of neck 15A so as to permit the free passage of water around it. In this embodiment, the internal diameter of neck 15A is manufactured large enough so that the area between the neck wall and the plunger 16 is the proper size for efficient operation of the venturi.

At its lower end, plunger 16 is reduced to a plunger point 16D. As shown, this point normally rests within aperture 14A. A weight 16A is provided at the upper end of plunger 16. As shown, weight 16A has an upper surface R1 and a lower surface R2. The weight 16A forces the plunger 16 downwardly so that plunger point 16D enters nozzle aperature 14A. The downward motion of the plunger is stopped by stops 16C which in the embodiment shown are a plurality of radial extensions from the generally cylindrical shaft of plunger 16. These stops 16C come to rest against the inner converging walls of the venturi above neck 15A.

A rod 17 is provided transversely across the venturi 15 as shown. Of course, the location of rod 17 may also be described as being in the discharge line. A longitudinal slot 16B is provided in plunger 16, and rod 17 fits therein with a sliding fit. A flow of water into the return line first lifts the point 16D out of aperature 14A and thence, flowing upwardly into the discharge line, impinges against surface R2. The weight 16A is chosen so that the ordinary force of the above-described flow lifts the weight and consequently the plunger 16 so that point 161) is well clear of nozzle 14A. The pump then operates normally. When the flow of water through the return line is stopped, the pressure on surface R2 drops off and the weight 16A then causes the point 16D to re-enter aperature 14A, thus clearing it of any debris. The weight of water in the discharge line, as applied against upper surface R1, also aids this return. The low position of the plunger is limited by the upper end of slot 16B. It is apparent that the stops 16C, which also act as guides, may be eliminated without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is also apparent that the support for the clearing means may vary widely. An alternate form of support is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the plunger 16 does not have a slot 16B, but is instead a solid member, provided with the usual weight 16A. A bearing 18 is provided with an aperture 18A therethrough. Plunger 16 has a freely sliding fit within bearing or washer 18, which in turn is supported as shown within venturi 15 or the discharge line by means of a spider 19. This spider 19 may consist of one or a plurality of transverse members.

The venturi, discharge line, and clearing means in the FIG. 1 embodiment are coupled to casing 12 by venturi coupling 15C which co-acts with casing coupling means 12D. The similar coupling in the embodiment of FIG. 4 is effected by venturi coupling means 25C which eo-acts with casing coupling means 12D. In both instances, the coupling means are preferably meshing threads. It is apparent that the plunger point 16D serves the same purpose as the reamer, plug or scraper 34 and may be similarly identified. The plunger 16 may also be identified as a reamer or scraper carrying means. The weight 16A in the embodiment FIG. 1 and the spring 37 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 are both reamer return means. The wire 31, 31A in the FIG. 4 embodiment may be described as a lifting means, and the surface R2 in the FIG. 1 embodiment may also be described as a reamer lifting means.

The scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and is not to be limited by the foregoing description and drawings which are illustrative.

I claim:

1. An ejector pump including a venturi, a nozzle below said venturi, a discharge line coupler above said venturi, clearing means to clear debris from said nozzle, said clearing means comprising a reamer carrying means within said venturi and said discharge line coupler, a reamer on said reamer carrying means, an aperture in said nozzle, reamer lifting means, reamer return means, said clearing means being operated by the operation of said pump, said reamer carrying means comprising an elongated generally cylindrical vertical plunger with an upper end and a lower end and passing at least partially through said venturi, said reamer comprising a point on the lower end of said plunger, said point passing at least partially through said nozzle aperture, said plunger being supported for vertical movement within said venturi, said reamer return means comprising a weight afiixed to said upper end of said plunger, and said reamer lifting means being the lower surface of said weight, said weight having a diameter greater than that of said plunger, whereby water flowing upward through said nozzle aperture and said venturi impinges on said lower surface of said weight.

2. An ejector pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger is provided with an elongated longitudinal slot therein, a fixed transverse rod is provided within said pump, and said elongated slot rides over said rod and a plurality of stops are provided on said plunger to limit the downward movement thereof.

3. An ejector pump as set forth in claim 1 wherein a transverse bearing having an aperture therein is mounted within said pump, and said plunger fits within said bearing aperture with a sliding fit, said bearing being aflixed within said pump.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/41 Harris 103-260 5/43 Lung 103--5 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. WARREN E. COLEMAN, Examiner. 

1. AN EJECTOR PUMP INCLUDING A VENTURI, A NOZZLE BELOW SAID VENTURI, A DISCHARGE LINE COUPLER ABOVE SAID VENTURI, CLEARING MEANS TO CLEAR DEBRIS FROM SAID NOZZLE, SAID CLEARING MEANS COMPRISING A REAMER CARRYING MEANS WITHIN SAID VENTURI AND SAID DISCHARGE LINE COUPLER, A REAMER ON SAID REAMER CARRYING MEANS, AN APERTURE IN SAID NOZZLE REAMER LIFTING MEANS, REAMER RETURN MEANS, SAID CLEARING MEANS BEING OPERATED BY THE OPERATION OF SAID PUMP, SAID REAMER CARRYING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL VERTICAL PLUNGER WITH AN UPPER END AND A LOWER END AND PASSING AT LEAST PARTIALLY THROUGH SAID A LOWER END AND PASSING AT LEAST PARTIALLY THROUGH SAID OF SAID PLUNGER, SAID POINT PASSING AT LEAST PARTIALLY THROUGH SAID NOZZLE APERTURE, SAID PLUNGER BEING SUPPORTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID VENTURI, SID REAMER RETURN MEANS COMPRISING A WEIGHT AFFIXED TO SAID UPPER END OF SAID PLUNGER, AND SAID REAMER LIFTING MEANS BEING THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID WEIGHT, SAID WEIGHT HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID PLUNGER, WHEREBY WATER FLOWING UPWARD THROUGH SAID NOZZLE APERTURE AND SAID VENTURI IMPINGES ON SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID WEIGHT. 